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Jehovah Nissi, The Lord Is My Banner

What’s in a name? A name is more than just something by which we are called; in a sense, it is our reputation. Did you know there are a multitude of names for God? Each name unique and powerful; the list is endless.

Join us on this exciting adventure through Scripture, where we will learn some amazing verses, talk about how those verses should affect our lives, and discuss some practical ways to make these names “real”.

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“And the LORD said unto Moses,Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar, andcalled the name of it Jehovah Nissi:”

~ Exodus 17:4-5

When knights fought for their family honor and for the glory of the king, they never went into battle alone. High above their heads a banner was raised, signifying all the knight represented. Setting out to conquer new territory or defend the land, armies carry the banner of their country, telling all the world what they represent.

I am no knight, I defend no earthly king. I may not be fighting on a battle field. But, none-the-less, I carry a banner and so do you! Our banner is God Himself.

Discussion – What is a banner? Does it have to be made with human hands? Now is an excellent time to discuss with our children what our lives stand for and who we want our banner to represent. Is our “banner” pointing people to God or to ourselves? (Or to anything other than God.) How do we present our banner to the world? Is our banner flown proudly, or are we shy?

In our home, God is our banner. He is who we represent and who we stand for. He goes before us, stands over us, and is the first thing we want people to see. Our banner protects us from harm, signifying we do not stand alone.

Activity – To help my younger children better understand what a banner is, this is a fun time to review medieval knighthood. What historic banners were flown during jousts and battles. What symbols were put onto the banner/flags to represent the king or the knight’s family name? For fun, let’s have the kids make their own banner.

For my older children, a little research might be in order. Does our family have a banner historically associated with its name? Which symbols represent our family and why are these of importance? Do they agree with the use of these symbols on the banner or do they feel others would have been of more importance?

To add to the holiday festivities, let’s make a Christmas banner! Using a worn piece of wood, we can paint a “Merry Christmas” sign. Then, we can add sprigs of holly and ivy to the sign. When we are all finished, we’ll place our banner over the front door; sharing Christmas with all who enter our home.

Prayer – To end our time in prayer, we’ll thank the Lord for always standing with His people. We ask for His continual protection, direction, and provision. We ask forgiveness for not always representing Him as we should, but thank Him for His continual grace and mercy. We ask that He not remove our battles, but that He give us victory in His name; bringing Him glory in all we say and do.

While many of us have never had the opportunity to serve in our countries’ military, we are proud soldiers of Jehovah Nissi. May He be our banner always, and may we stand firm for His glory. No matter the struggles we face, our God stands with us.

Time to Chime In: Does your family have a crest/banner historically associated with its name? What does your family banner look like?